Telangana Gram Panchayat Phase 2 Sees 56.71% Turnout Till 11 AM

Hyderabad: Polling is underway for the second phase of the Telangana Panchayat elections. Officials said that a voter turnout of 56.71 per cent was recorded across the state till 11 am.

District-wise polling percentages were also released by authorities. Rangareddy district recorded 54.33 per cent turnout, Warangal 59.31 per cent, Hanumakonda 54.11 per cent, Bhadradri Kothagudem 57.57 per cent, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri 56.51 per cent, and Suryapet registered the highest turnout at 60.07 per cent till the reported time.

Elections are being held for 3,911 Gram Panchayat sarpanch posts and 29,917 ward member positions. A total of 12,782 candidates are contesting for sarpanch posts, while 71,071 candidates are in the fray for ward member seats. As many as 57,22,465 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise at 38,337 polling stations.

Polling will continue until 1 PM, followed by counting of votes from 2 PM. Results will be declared thereafter. Subsequently, meetings of newly elected ward members will be held to elect deputy sarpanches.

Earlier, the election notification was issued for 4,333 sarpanch posts and 38,350 ward member seats. Of these, 115 sarpanch posts and 8,307 ward member positions were declared unanimous. Nominations were not filed in five villages and 108 wards, while elections were withheld in two villages and 18 wards. Polling is being conducted in the remaining panchayats.

To ensure the smooth conduct of elections, 4,583 returning officers and 30,661 staff have been deployed. Additionally, 2,489 micro-observers are overseeing the process. A total of 40,626 ballot papers are being used. Webcasting facilities have been arranged at 3,769 sensitive polling stations to enhance transparency and security.